Why Is My Snake Plant Dying? Essential Tips to Turn Its Health Around

Author:

Rayna Trick

Last Updated:

April 3, 2024

When I saw my brother looking worried in the living room, he pointed at our snake plant and asked, why is my snake plant dying?

The plant looked sad, with some of its leaves turning yellow.

Snake Plant Dying Reason

I told him, “The main cause of the snake plant dying is you are not taking care of it correctly. It might be getting too much water, not enough light, or bugs could be bothering it.” He wanted to know how to spot the trouble. “If the leaves are yellow, the bottom feels mushy, or the leaves are drooping, that’s a bad sign,” I explained.

Then he asked, What do we do now? I said

We should water it less, find a spot where it gets light but not too much sun, and check for bugs. If the roots look bad, we’ll need to put it in new dirt and cut off the rotten parts.

We decided to take care of the plant together. This was just the beginning of learning how to make sure our plant gets better and stay healthy. So, keep reading!

Table of Contents

Main Facts:

Your snake plant can die due to poor drainage, overwatering, exposure to cold temperatures, slow-draining soil, insects, etc.
If your snake plant starts dying, its leaves will weaken and have yellowish, brown spots on it.
You can save your snake plant by giving it less water and keeping it out of direct sunlight.

Why Is My Snake Plant Dying?

You may be curious to know why your snake plant is dying at the roots or after repotting. Well, your snake plant can die for many reasons. Among them, the major reasons are:

Poor Drainage
Overwatering
Exposure to Cold Temperature
Slow Draining Soil
Insect Problem
Root Rot
Exposure to Drastic Temperature Change
Excessive Exposure to Sunlight
Pest Infestations
Nutrition Deficiency

Poor Drainage

Snake plants don’t like too much water. If your plant’s pot doesn’t let water out well, its roots will get too wet. Make sure you use a pot with holes in the bottom. This will let any extra water escape, keeping your snake plant roots dry and healthy.

Overwatering

Too much water is bad for your snake plant. They prefer to dry out a bit between waterings. Wet soil for too long can lead to root rot, where the roots get soft and brown, and the plant starts to suffer.

You should water only when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. You can use a self-watering pot to be in a safe zone.

Exposure to Cold Temperature

Cold air can shock your snake plants and make the leaves get soft spots or droop. Keep your snake plant in a warm spot away from cold drafts, especially during the colder months.

Slow Draining Soil

Snake plants also struggle in soil that holds water for too long. Poor drainage can cause root rot. So, you should use potting soil that drains well to avoid this. Adding some sand or perlite can help water flow through the soil better.

Insect Problem

Bugs like spider mites can attack your indoor plants, including snake plants. They suck on the leaves, leaving little brown spots or causing damage. You should check the leaves often for bugs and clean them off with a damp cloth if you find any.

Root Rot

Root rot happens when the roots are in too much water. Unlike a healthy plant’s firm, white roots, this condition turns them soft and brown. If you think your plant has root rot, you should move it to fresh soil and cut off any bad roots. So, keep an eye on and maintain healthy snake plant roots to enjoy healthy plants.

Exposure to Drastic Temperature Change

Snake plants don’t like big temperature changes. If you shift your plant from hot to cold too fast, it can stress them out. Ultimately, it can cause your snake plant’s leaves to change color or droop. You should try to keep your plant in a place with a steady, warm temperature.

Excessive Exposure to Sunlight

While snake plants need light, too much direct sun can burn the leaves. Burned leaves might get brown spots or lose color. You must place your snake plant where it will get indirect sunlight. This way, it gets enough light without the damage.

Pest Infestations

Pests can weaken your plant and damage your snake plant leaves. Checking your snake plant for pests and dealing with problems early can help keep it healthy. A light wash or using insecticidal soap can get rid of pests and ensure your snake plant’s regrowth.

Nutrition Deficiency

Though snake plants don’t need a lot of food, they do need some nutrients. If your snake plant doesn’t get enough nutrition, it can look weak, and its leaves turn yellow. To stay healthy, give it a balanced fertiliser a few times yearly. But don’t overfeed it.

Sign Of Snake Plant Dying

You may often think, Why is my snake plant dying yellow? If you see your snake plant leaf is yellow, it is one of the snake plant dying signs. The other signs are:

Brown spots: If your snake plant has brown spots, it’s probably too sunny or too wet for it. They like light but not right in the sun and hate sitting in water.
Root rot: If your snake plant roots are mushy and dark, they may have root rot from too much water. Make sure your plant’s pot lets water out through drainage holes.
Damaged leaves: If your snake plant leaves look rough, with brown edges or spots, something’s wrong. It could be because it’s too cold or hot, or it might need more food.
Spider mites: Little webs or spots on your plant mean spider mites are attacking it. These tiny bugs can make your snake plant leaves curl, look bad and hurt your plant if you don’t deal with them.
Nutrient deficiency: Slow growth or yellow leaves can mean your plant needs more nutrients. If you give your plant a little fertilizer, it can help your snake plant to regrow.

How To Save A Dying Snake Plant?

Did you notice the sign? Then you must be wondering how do I save my dying snake plant. Don’t panic. There is a way to save it. Such as:

Waterless
Keep it in a softer light
Take care of root problems
Fight off bugs
Make sure it has light
Switch the soil
Feed it
Handle fungus issues

Waterless: Wait for your snake plant soil to dry before watering again. Make sure your pot has holes at the bottom for water to escape.
Keep it in a softer light: If there are brown spots on the leaves, it’s probably from too much sun. Find a place where the sun doesn’t hit it directly. This will stop the leaves from getting hurt.
Take care of root problems: Soft, dark roots mean root rot. Cut the bad parts off and put your plant in new dirt.
Fight off bugs: Seeing little bugs or spider webs means spider mites exist. Gently washing the leaves with soapy water can help your plant heal.
Make sure it has light: Your plant needs light, but not right in the sun. Enough light, but not too much, keeps it happy.
Switch the soil: If the soil is old or tough, it could be better for your plant. Giving it new soil can make a big difference.
Feed it: If your plant looks weak, it might be hungry. A bit of plant food can help it get strong.
Handle fungus issues: Weird fungus on your snake plant leaves could mean fungus. More air and cutting away sick parts can help fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Is There Any Way To Prevent Snake Plants From Dying?

To prevent snake plants from dying, you must ensure water drains easily through the pot and soil. Also, take special care of your plants.

What If The Snake Plant Had Already Died?

If your snake plant has already died, you can still hope for its regrowth. Change its soil, put it in a pot where water drains well, and keep it in indirect sunlight. With your care, it may regrow again.

Final Note

So, we are at the end of our guide on why is my snake plant dying? Looking after your snake plant is pretty easy. Just make sure you don’t overwater it, give it enough light but not too much, and keep an eye out for any bugs. If the roots start to rot, just put them in new soil and cut off the bad parts.

With a little care, your snake plant can be back to being healthy. Do you have any questions about your snake plant? Comment below. Planttrick experts are all ears!